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Folds in Rocks

This document provides definitions and classifications for describing folded rock structures. It defines key terms like anticline, syncline, and monocline. It describes the curvature and tightness of folds. It also presents Ramsay's fold classification system based on dip isogon patterns and defines terms like gentle, open, close, and tight to describe fold tightness. Finally, it outlines a classification system for fold orientation based on axial surface and fold axis orientations.

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Daljeet Sidhu
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98 views5 pages

Folds in Rocks

This document provides definitions and classifications for describing folded rock structures. It defines key terms like anticline, syncline, and monocline. It describes the curvature and tightness of folds. It also presents Ramsay's fold classification system based on dip isogon patterns and defines terms like gentle, open, close, and tight to describe fold tightness. Finally, it outlines a classification system for fold orientation based on axial surface and fold axis orientations.

Uploaded by

Daljeet Sidhu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NOMENCLATURE FOR FOLDS
w
 
s
 
 
     
      Positive curvature = concave up
  Hinge   Negative curvature = concave down
Limb  
 
  Inflection point;
Limb
curvature = 0.
 
 
 
Radius of curvature is small(est) at the hinge, larg(est) on the limbs
 
 
Symmetrical Folds
 
Wavelength
 

Enveloping surface
 
Amplitude
 
 
 
 
 
surface
surface

surface

 
Axial
Axial

Axial

 
 
 
 
Enveloping surface
 
 
 
   
  Asymmetrical Folds  
  Enveloping surface Crest Hinge
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Enveloping surface Hinge Trough

 
 
 
 
NOMENCLATURE FOR FOLDS Fig. 28.2
 
 
       
 
Anticline   Young
       
           
       
 
  Monocline
      Old
Young     Young  
Antiformal
Old Old Young
syncline
 
   
 
Old
Synformal
Syncline
Anticline
 
 
 
Syncline: fold where rocks become younger towards axial surface

Anticline: fold where rocks become older towards axial surface

Synform: fold where limbs dip towards axial surface

Antiform: fold where limbs dip way from axial surface


 
 
Monocline: gentle anticline-syncline pair with horizontal outer limbs
 
 
 
Overturned folds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Overturned syncline: one limb of syncline is overturned
 
 
Overturned anticline: one limb of anticline: is overturned

 
 
 
Ramsay's Fold Classification
 
Dip Isogon: a line that connects points of equal dip on the top and bottom
of a folded layer
 
Class 1: Dip isogons converge towards axial surface;
Cinner > Couter
1A 1B 1C
Limbs thicker Layer thickness Limbs thinner
than hinges is constant than hinges
  (parallel folds)
Axial
surface
 
Dip
isogon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class 2: Dip isogons parallel axial surface (similar folds);
Cinner = Couter
Inner and outer fold surfaces
have exactly the same shape Translate outer fold surface
parallel to axial surface to match
inner fold surface
 
 
 
 
 
Class 3: Dip isogons diverge from axial surface;
Cinner < Couter
 

Class 3 conditions can't


extend "forever" otherwise
the inner and outer fold surfaces
would cross

 
 
 
Terms for Describing the Tightness of Folds
 
 
 
Interlimb angle Description of fold
180o - 120o Gentle
120o - 70o Open
70o - 30o Close
30o - 0o Tight
"0o" Isoclinal
Negative Mushroom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gentle
120o
 
 
 
 
 
 
70o
 
 
 
 
 
Open
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30o 30o
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Close Tight
 
Isoclinal
(limbs are parallel)

 
 
 
Fold Classifications
(modified from Ragan, 1973,)
Based on direction of fold concavity, axial suface orientation, and fold axis orientation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Fold
Vertical axis
 

Fold opens horizontally


Vertical axial surface
Vertical fold axis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Upright plunging Reclined
 
 
 
 
Fold opens up or down   Fold opens sideways
Vertical axial surface Inclined plunging Horizontal axial surface
Horizontal fold axis Horizontal fold axis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Upright horizontal Inclined horizontal Recumbent
 
 
 
First modifier (e.g., "upright") describes orientation of axial surface
Second modifier (e.g., "horizontal") describes orientation of fold axis

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